When people say “I wish I could travel for a living!” I start talking about the sheer number of opportunities out there.

Before settling into travel blogging and journalism (I’m actually using my college major!), I spent some time as an international tour director and guide, learning firsthand what goes into leading groups of people through some of the world’s most famous sights. It can be a dream job if you know what you’re getting into. I felt like I earned my master’s degree in European history from everything I learned, and often served as a makeshift therapist for travelers. We’d even come up with nicknames, like “QNE” for Questions Never End.

Tour director Carrie Fitchett. (Photograph courtesy Carrie Fitchett)

The truth is there’s no one way to go about landing your dream job. But it does help to pick as many brains as possible.

I sat down and chatted with Carrie Fitchett, a sought-after tour director working with Educational Travel Adventures, about what to know if you’re thinking about pursuing her line of work. “When I researched jobs that said ‘TRAVEL FOR A LIVING!,’ they were all things where people go, stay in the hotel, drink bad coffee all day, and wear heels,” she said. “I didn’t want to do that or sit in an office with a headset and sell places I’ve never been to. That’s why this job made sense,” she said.

Know the Lingo: Tour Director vs. Tour Guide
A tour director is the one responsible for logistics, confirmations, planning, damage control, and group dynamics. They also give commentary on history and culture. A tour guide gives specific narration in a place, often joining the tour group for just a couple of hours. If you want to dip into this world, local guiding is great, and perfect if you want to go home each night. There is also long-term contract work available on cruises, from big ships to smaller river cruises.

Know the Pros
If you’re in a rut at your current job, here’s a chance to do something different each and every day. This is a job that can take you all over the world to events like the Olympics and the World Cup. “It’s the ridiculous things I get to do every single day — whether it’s museums, shows, or eating dinner in the Eiffel Tower — but it’s also the dynamic of people,” Fitchett said. “When someone waits their whole life to go to Paris, I get to take them. It’s the look on their face as they experience it for the first time, and I’m a part of that memory.”

Know the Cons
Most tour directors are freelance, which brings its own set of challenges, like needing independent health insurance and struggling to cobble together enough work — especially at the beginning. You’ll also be getting very little sleep when you’re confirming the next day’s activities and studying commentary. “True colors come out on tour,” Fitchett said. “Sometimes people are ungrateful or bossy or think they know more about a place than you…But even if I think it’s the silliest question I’ve ever heard in my life, I have to answer it so they feel good about it.” Scheduling may keep you away from home for weeks or month at a time, so you might have to skip important events, like weddings or funerals.

Consider Training
The International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) is a well-known guide program, offering two-week trainings in San Francisco and an annual symposium to connect tour companies with guides. The high price tag (around $3,500 for tuition) doesn’t include housing or meals, but the pay off can be well worth it. “The money will come back to you in your first couple of tours,” Fitchett said. “Plus, I made amazing friends and priceless contacts.” There is also the International Guide Academy in Colorado, as well as many online options.

Adults vs. StudentsMost tour directors choose to work a mix of adult and student tours. Student tours provide a way to make money in the spring in places like Boston, New York, and D.C., when adult tours run less frequently. Adult tours, usually clustered in summer and fall, can take you all over the world. But there’s a difference: “With kids, you affect and change lives. Maybe they’ve never traveled and you show them what’s out there,” Fitchett said. On the other hand,with adults, “the whole trip is more chill, but in the downtime you might be freaking out over what question they’ll ask next.”

Going Off Road
You may burn out or get tired of always being on the road. That doesn’t mean your career in the tour business is over. There are behind-the-scenes roles to be played at tour companies — like developing product, which involves choosing the right hotel, transportation, and activity partners, as well as sales, event planning, and social media.

Bottom Line: Is It Right for You?
“For this job, you have to love every part of travel, and know you will be living out of a suitcase and never sleeping,” Fitchett said. “But I absolutely love what I do, and I don’t need the stability right now.” But, like anything, timing is everything. “In the meantime, love the job you have!” she said. “Try a class, start locally, and talk to as many people as possible who have done it or are doing it.”

Annie Fitzsimmons is Intelligent Travel’s Urban Insider, giving you the dish on the best things to see and do in cities all over the world. Follow her travels on Twitter @anniefitz.

Comments

I want to be a travel guide but not understanding what course should I study

MOHAMED

August 15, 2014, 8:38 am

My name is moàhamed I’m from morocco north africa ^_^ !
i’m a student and my dream is to be a guide .
welcom guys in my beautiful country

Lawrence Patrick McGovern

Boulder, CO

August 2, 2014, 6:06 pm

There is no choice between the 2 schools. Hands down, IGA is the way to go. The positive comments above them should be enough. I could write a novel about how pleased I am with the choice I made.

I, too, looked at both schools and investigated them thoroughly.

IGA’s president (Daniel Slater) responded personally to every inquiry that I made about the program while making my choice of schools, usually on the same day. He answered the phone when I called. He listened to my questions and met my concerns. He also sent me a list of graduates of his school to contact.

ITMI would not share anything until I paid a registration fee! Emails and phone calls went unanswered, or, I got “form letter answers”. ITMI seems to be a company that doesn’t like to talk to you unless you pay them. In face, ITMI just seems hell bent on taking every penny they can from you. They tout their “symposium” as the end-all, be-all. However, you have to pay to attend and they want to take even more of your money every year to stay “active” with them.

On the other hand, IGA gives job leads for free to every grad they have. They worked with me on my resume and cover letter personally. They didn’t write it for me, they made suggestions and comments based on their experience and the experience of their successful graduates. It must have taken hours to review all the trial resumes and cover letters that I sent them, and they do this for all of their graduates at no extra charge.

This is the greatest career in the world and my hat is off to IGA for making it possible. Even after graduation, they respond promptly whenever I call or email. They send out job postings all the time, and I feel they truly care about my success.

It is not all about the money, but why pay twice as much when you can get the same training and much better follow up from IGA?

My friend went to ITMI. Once she graduated, they could not have cared less. She went to one symposium, where they did “group interviews”, which were inevitably dominated by one or two people. No job, no leads, nada. With IGA’s support, within 60 days of graduation I was leading my first tour. My friend is still waiting tables.

Frank Slater

CEO, International Guide Academy

July 30, 2014, 3:50 pm

Jessica and any others interested, we would be happy to speak to any person interested in receiving training, certification and free job placement assistance. As CEO of the International Guide Academy (IGA) we will speak personally to you if you call our office. Either I or the company president personally answer the phone if we are in the office. We want you to make an informed decision and answer all your questions before you enroll in a program. Give us a call at 303-780-0131 and you can also review our website at http://www.bepaidtotravel.com
We have been in business since 1973, licensed, bonded and have a worldwide reputation as the most trusted school with a premium certification.

Jessica

United States -California

July 26, 2014, 6:08 pm

This is a comment directed at the last poster, and really for anyone who can chime in! I am also debating between ITMI and IGA – I would like to put a deposit down on one of the two within the next week, and I’m looking into taking a course this October or November. Does anyone have any feedback about which academy to attend?! Any help would be lovely!

L Blum

Las Vgeas, NV

July 16, 2014, 2:15 pm

I have looked at both the ITMI and IGA. I am not sure which one is right for me. Can anyone tell me more?

Mark McGreevey

San Francisco, CA

June 16, 2014, 2:39 pm

Here in San Francisco I knew a few guides, and I knew about the ITMI. But in the 1990’s it cost $2600 which I didn’t have. So I went to a big bus company, Grayline, and asked how they got their local guides. I wound up learning to drive the big buses and have had steady work with increasingly-smaller tourbus outfits ever since. The Class B license a big bus company can help you get will launch you far faster into local tourguiding and a nonstop flow of work than any institute. Tour directing to foreign countries is another ball of wax and is tough to break into at first, not to mention exhausting if you’re near 40, since you’re never home. Finally, one caveat: it’s definitely at will hiring and firing in this business. They can use you, then toss you, based on silly customer complaints, no matter your expertise. Not only that, it’s personal dislike and competition amongst the guides. That’s why I like the lack of team playing involved in “tourbus driver/guide”: you get to be the boss on board. See Napa more than three times a week!

Esther

Ghana

June 13, 2014, 10:02 am

Hi my dream is to be a tour guide am 25 years old and a graduate of global school of aviation and a diploma holder in tourism.i worked as a tour guide in Kwame Nkrumah memorial park my dream is to travel around the world

Jalel

Tunisia

June 3, 2014, 7:21 pm

Hi my dream is to be tour guide I have a lots of things to show to guest and to explained and I now I can get answer

Helen.nelson

Papua New Guinea

May 29, 2014, 8:43 pm

Iam glad i come across this article.am 29 years old and working with a resort in png.i like my job as a tour guide.my dream is to travel the world.

Devendra

Jaipur, India

May 26, 2014, 11:47 am

I’m a tour guide/manager based of Jaipur. Been in the industry for last 7 years after wasting couple of years trying to climb the corporate ladder. Absolutely love this job. It has made me a better person in every sense…would love to do one of these traning courses in USA to sharpen my skills & improve my execution capabilities sometime soon.
Cheers

praveen kumar

coimbatore INDIA

May 25, 2014, 9:46 am

i am from india a country where education,is worst i am doing my thrid year of Aeronautical engineering very much interested in this Department but the education system is good soo I lost all my interest in this field I dont to study further then I thought that what I am going to became in this world then I found my interested is in travelling soo I would like be a travel guide please any help me to glow my life and I am from my middle class family I would like to bring the change in INDIA

art

Calgary

May 10, 2014, 4:17 pm

Wow glad I came across this article. I am 27 years old, graduated from University a few years ago, and working at a decent paying job that I certainly do not hate…however, I would love to do something more interesting with my life. I have a passion for travel and adventure. I want to get started soon while I am still young…I dont want to wait until I am older and realize it is to late (although I guess it never really is to late). I am just not sure how to start with this….any suggestions/advice would be appreciated!

RUTH W

FRONT OFFICE

May 10, 2014, 8:03 am

AM just overwhilmed by what they talking i real desire to be a tour guide but to this far ive never found a through way i believe my time shall come i still have hope

Prasad Joshi

Canada

May 7, 2014, 9:01 am

Working as a tour guide is really a charming and lovely profession. I am currently working on a website related with online trip guide. Please have a look. http://www.joguru.com/. As personally I am also a travel loving person so I would definitely love to work as a travel guide.

DESMOND DMELLO

India

May 5, 2014, 11:57 pm

LOVE TO BE TOUR GUIDE

Mohannad

Jordan

May 3, 2014, 5:53 am

Great post!

I hope to be tour guide soon.

Ankur tribhuvan

New delhi, India

May 3, 2014, 5:28 am

Hello, Im also willing to become a tour guide…becoz i love travelling n i want to live my life by travelling different countries of the world n make tourists travel a memorable event……

Arash

IRAN

April 25, 2014, 11:47 am

thanks for your comments, I am also a tour guide in Iran. wish to cooperate with you to have a tour to Iran.

harshit papnai

delhi

March 30, 2014, 3:40 am

it is very interesting sector for job

Amir Khababa

algeria

March 27, 2014, 5:26 am

i love this job because you can meet new peoples from different countries and different cultures

Subash

India

March 26, 2014, 2:51 am

I want to become a tour guide meet new peoples from different cultures different countries and different languages

Neil Rawlins

New Zealand

March 17, 2014, 4:40 pm

I have been a travel guide for over 35 years, before tourism courses were around & although these courses can give you the basics, it is really experience that will make you a good guide. Thrown in at the deep end can also help! I had my beginnings on the London to Kathmandu Overland route in the late ’70s & my first job as tour leader was to meet a group at Istanbul airport, take them through Turkey, Syria, Jordan, into Israel across to Iraq then back through Turkey, down to Egypt & across Europe to London. I had only been through Turkey before & that had been 9 years earlier, so I had to learn quick. This group still keeps in touchm after 35 years! To be a good tour director, even if relying on local guides, you still need to research your area thoroughtly as you will always be asked questions. Having a good general knowledge is important & also knowing a little bit about your clients home area helps a lot. Besides Overland, I have run tours in Europe, Soviet Union, Jordan, North Africa, camel safaris in India, tours into Kashmir & Ladakh & even tours in the remote Chatham Islands. For the last 25 years have worked as a driver/guide in New Zealand, Australia & the Pacific Islands. Perhaps the biggest drawback for me has been the seasonal fluctuation of work. I am always willing to use my expertise in any new travel-related enterprise.

vincent mudaki

uganda

February 13, 2014, 4:27 am

hey there,i grew up near mgahinga and bwindi impenatrable gorilla national park,where i developed interest and love for wildlife and nature,so i had to become a tour guide

sweta s sawant

mumbai

February 9, 2014, 4:32 am

hey can any one help me. i am interested to become a tour guide. pls suggest what all studies, courses are required ?

Amy

January 18, 2014, 9:22 pm

Does any know any good online courses? Thank you in advance!

ernestmpande

south africa

January 12, 2014, 6:10 am

Wow that is what I really want for my career is it possible in south africa?

sandeep

India

January 12, 2014, 2:42 am

I have been a tour guide for Taj mahal and other heritage monuments at Agra In India. And as stated in your article still I am enjoying it even after completing my five years in this profession.

Sheldon Samuels

St. Pete Florida

November 26, 2013, 3:53 pm

When visiting NYC, a wonderful tour guide is Marc who runs a tour called PhotoTrek Tours. This tour provides a private and custom 2 or 3 hour Photo / Walking Tour of NYC.

I just lead my first tour of Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore a few days ago and had so much fun researching and guiding friends and strangers and I’m looking to make this a regular gig. Thanks for the info and links.

Samson Oumo Abuya

Nairobi Kenya

November 18, 2013, 8:11 am

Kenya is a crandle land for man kind.Diverse cultures and friendly inhabitant.it is internationally known for its unique experiences it offer to its visitors.Be the first to experience the same today!!!

Ravidas

india

November 18, 2013, 1:56 am

I’m 24 years old, i would like become a tourist guide. Can you help me to get it? i had completed MTA (master of tourism Administration ) contact no : +91 9742322901 ,i am from India .and want to work abroad.ravidaswalekar@gmail.com

Ann-Katrin

Taiwan/Europe/here and there

November 5, 2013, 9:20 am

Thanks for an interesting article. I have been travelling and blogging for years now, travelling privately at least once a month, recently I left my job in Europe to move to Taiwan to study Chinese so I can begin to make a living out of my passions; Food and travel. I have a lot of experience from working and living in an international environment and know that there are challenges with working like this, but sometimes it is easy to forget – this article points out that it’s not about hanging around the pool and be cool; Not that I expected it but suspect that’s what many people think about when they talk about travel and work. I love how this article helps balancing the view.

jaime

United States

October 25, 2013, 10:13 pm

Im about to retire from the military. Have traveled the world and love to learn the history of every country I’ve been in. What is the recommended age to begging in this carrier.

Kamila

England

October 24, 2013, 1:58 pm

Wow! This is brilliant, finally I know what I really wan to do when I leave school. Thank you so much!!

Vanessa

Costa Rica

October 24, 2013, 2:41 am

I am a tour director And tour guide in Costa Rica and I want to invite you to visit my country’s exhuberant nature, beautiful beaches, nurture your soul!

Amber Lynn

October 10, 2013, 4:58 am

What a fun post! Tour guide is not only a job, but a passion as well.

It’s an incredible thing to see different people with the beautiful smiles, with faces filled with awe as they see different places and hear stories/history.

my dream is to become a tour guide, thats why i am studying Travel and Tourism

Shopan

Bangladesh

August 8, 2013, 4:02 pm

I want to become a tour guide. Who can help me?
My Skype id”shopan82″

Thanks

Trish Oliveira

Atlanta, GA

July 29, 2013, 11:44 pm

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the IGA instructors for my in-depth classroom training on June 2012. Less than 6 weeks after earing my International Tour Director certification, I was headed for my first tour to Cuba!

IGA prepared me to be “tour ready” and indeed, the solid 9-day training came to be extremely valuable while I was on my first tour (which lasted 15 days).

I am extremely confident, especially after getting wonderful reviews from the participants on this tour, and thanks to IGA, that I will be thriving in this exiting industry and new career!

srikanth k

Hyderabad, AP, India

July 22, 2013, 1:02 pm

This is what am looking for interested in exploring new places and i am a kind of wanderer…………….

barnaby

UK

July 20, 2013, 4:24 am

Great post, Annie. Most people think I’ve got the dream job already – I finished a two-month European tour working for Beyonce in May and just got back from Greece for a heavy metal band – but think of my poor eardrums! Ha ha.

Seriously, I love travel and, even after 15 years on the road, I still love going to new places and meeting new people. Tour guiding could be the change I’m looking for. Thanks again – an informative post. I’ll follow you on Twitter.

Saiba kanojia

India

July 8, 2013, 1:42 am

Hi I have read the post & rcvd very insight info about this job. I m graduate in hotel & tourism mngmt currently working in Singapore as f&b executive.I do like to willingly take initiative about this career as a tour guide. This is really very fascinating job for me & I always been looking for such career so if hve any opportunity pls let me know. I m eagerly waiting for some rply.Thanks

i really want 2 be a tour guide but im shy i dont know how i will talk with people i think i have to be a tour operator.

Gopinath Ojha

india,orissa

May 3, 2013, 3:32 am

i like to build my carrier in guiding,because travel is passion and i am also a talkative .in this field i can spend more time with different kinds of people and collect data about their culture and history.

Khader

Barcelona(spain)

April 21, 2013, 4:35 pm

Im a jordanian tour guide living in Spain, i love my profession i would like to expan horizons and develop my work in canada or australialia.Any sugestion on how to find a tour guide job in these countries?
Thanks

Rushikesh Rithe

India

April 12, 2013, 3:12 pm

It’s my dream and I would love to do these job.These is totally different profession….something new

Marry

Pakistanfashionmag

March 29, 2013, 2:51 am

it seems like the best job on the earth to become a tour guide, In fact every one wishes to become a tour guide meet new people, take them to show sites and current days I have seen many news many people are kidnapping people identifying them that they are tour guides but they are not actually.

felix chama

lusaka, Zambia

March 22, 2013, 9:47 am

I have been wishing to become a tour guide home or abroad , learn more about wild life conservation , how its managed in different parts of the world, learn about different cultures and history .Tour guide would be the very best to me with my past experience

Camila

March 19, 2013, 9:49 pm

I have been considering becoming a tour guide for quite some time and have been a little “iffy” about it. I absolutely love to travel, but I still want to be able to have a life of my own at home. I know I want a career that involves travel one way or another, and thought since I enjoy learning about culture and history, that a tour guide would be the perfect job! I feel so torn at times!

Barbara

Canada

January 24, 2013, 8:33 am

Three years ago I didn’t even know what a tour director was. I’ve always enjoyed travel, history and culture and when I finally did meet a professional tour director I knew that was the job I had always dreamed of having. Last year I graduated from the International Guide Academy and within three months landed my first tour assignment. I spent the entire summer leading tours here in Canada and already have work lined up for this coming season. Being a tour director is a demanding job and requires more than people skills and destination knowledge, it also requires a lot of attention to detail. I credit the education I received at IGA with preparing me so well to handle the demands of the job. Tour directing may not be for everyone as you are away from home for long stretches of time and it is seasonal work. For me though it is the perfect job. I spend half the year traveling around to historic sites, world class museums, bustling cities and peaceful countrysides all the while showing my beautiful country to foreign tourists – AND I get paid to do it!

Sandi Wheaton

January 23, 2013, 10:21 pm

Getting Tour Management (tour directing) certification through the International Guide Academy was one of the best decisions I have ever made, hands down. All my life I wanted a job that involved travel and made good use of my natural abilities – this career is a shockingly good fit for me… And I doubt I would even be doing it if it weren’t for IGA. Great school, great instructors, great network. Go for it, if you are interested in this industry. You’ll make the investment back after just one tour.

Elaine Rodriguez

New York, NY

January 23, 2013, 9:08 pm

I’m a graduate of the International Guide Academy in Denver, and I’m having the time of my life traveling all over the world. This year I will be spending a total of 5 months touring in Europe, 6 weeks in Australia, and in 3 weeks I’ll be leading 2 tours in beautiful Hawaii. I currently work for three different companies on three different continents. Carrie Fitchett is right-you make your tuition money back after a few tours. I’m living a dream. Chase yours.

Maria Esther Segura

Quito, Ecuador

January 23, 2013, 11:40 am

I m so happy to be a tour guide here in Ecuador because I have the way to know everything i want i now my country and different people comming from everywhere, it is one of the most beutiful carrers . Come to discover my country …ECUADOR

mukesh gaur

jaipur india

January 23, 2013, 3:27 am

yes i want to become a tour guide.

Liz

Canada

January 23, 2013, 2:03 am

That is a very exciting career. Almost everyone I talk to about traveling want to do it, and aren’t sure whats holding them back. Many different reasons. I would love to work and travel. Learn the histories and cultures of different countries. Missing out on important family events would be hard. Thanks for the post!

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